Senior Art Handler

Cleveland Museum of Art; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free CMA admission for employee

50% off guest admissions

20% store discount

Restaurant and café discounts

Job summary

The Cleveland Museum of Art is seeking a Senior Art Handler to lead installation and rotating exhibitions, manage gallery upkeep, and mentor junior team members. This role requires working with sculpture, paintings, crates, and special shipments to CMA standards.

Applicants should have extensive art handling experience, a valid driver's license, and proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with archiving, crating, and heavy equipment is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; college/trade training preferred.
• Ten years art handling experience or equivalent in carpentry/crate-making/installations.
• Valid driver’s license; experience with heavy equipment and woodworking tools preferred.
• Familiarity with MS Office and museum database usage is a plus.
• Able to lift/handle fragile, valuable artworks safely.

Responsibilities

• Lead installation and dissections for special exhibitions and permanent collections.
• Maintain and train on heavy equipment like forklift and pallet stackers.
• Prepare galleries and storage for rotations and exhibitions.
• Unpack, install, and de-install artworks; manage art handling logistics.
• Maintain accurate location records in CMA databases and communicate movements.

Skills

Art handling experience

Driver's license

MS Office familiarity

Team leadership

Safety compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Trade school or college training

Tools

Power woodworking tools

Table/panel saws

Archival housing fabrication

Job description

Job Details

Description

Reporting to the Art Handler Supervisor, the Senior Art Handler position is a content specialist who performs all related services necessary for the successful installation of special exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, the renovation and maintenance of museum galleries and storage areas, and the handling of museum shipments to Collections Management department specifications. This position is committed to maintaining clean and safe work environments in galleries, department office spaces, and storage areas. The position holder demonstrates a deep knowledge of industry standard materials, equipment, and supplies. They have the capacity and ability to train, lead and mentor more junior team members.

Requirements

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); college degree or additional training in trade school preferred; minimum ten years art handling experience and/or training in basic carpentry, crate-making and art installation experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Employee must possess a valid driver’s license. Prior experience with power and manual woodworking tools, table and panel saws, scaffolds, forklift, and other heavy equipment required. Painting and carpentry skills also required. Basic understanding of art media and materials required.
• Employee must be able to safely handle fragile, cumbersome, and valuable objects. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and with database usage in a museum setting is preferred.
• A flexible mindset and professional demeanor are critical to this role as the employee interacts with all levels of museum staff and the public. The employee must be a team oriented individual who works well in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the upkeep, maintenance of and organizing regular trainings on Collections Management department heavy equipment and tools such as forklift, pallet stacker, etc., for team members. Order equipment and tools as required.
• Schedule and work with outside riggers and contractors as required
• May act as lead art handler for special exhibitions and permanent collection projects (such as rotations) on a rotating basis as assigned.
• Retrofit or fabricate new archival housing for artwork in storage as directed by Conservation or Collections Manager. Archival housing includes folders, boxes, trays or other enclosures.
• Prepare galleries for the installation of special exhibitions or the reinstallation and rotation of the museum’s permanent collection.
• Unpack and install works of art for special exhibitions and the museum’s permanent collection galleries.
• Dismantle and remove special exhibitions from galleries; includes removing works of art from the galleries and packing artwork borrowed from outside sources for their return.
• Work with a variety of museum staff on the rotation of works of art from and to museum galleries and storage areas; includes handling, moving and hanging/displaying artworks safely and efficiently.
• Maintain location records according to CMA best practices. Update locations as necessary in database or communicate location changes and movement completion within 24 hours to Collections Manager and Registrars, as appropriate per project.
• Load and unload works of art coming into or going out of the museum from trucks/moving vans as needed. Unload departmental materials, such as foam, lumber and other supplies delivered to the museum.
• Maintain clean equipment, material and supply storage, and general workspaces, including the art dock, art handler office, fine art storage spaces, art pathways and art handler supply cages.
• Participates in ongoing storage maintenance including regular cleanings, environmental monitoring, pest management, and emergency response preparations.
• Work with a variety of museum staff on permanent collection projects including, but not limited, to: the safe handling and movement of artworks for light sensitive rotations, incoming and outgoing loan replacement swaps, temporary installations and deinstallations of artwork for study, examination, events or photography projects.
• Assist Packing Specialist with crate fabrication and art transport when requested.
• Organize the receiving area and dock area for incoming objects and exhibitions.
• Work in conjunction with the Registrar for Loans to ensure that all TSA guidelines for screenings are followed and all CCSP requirements are met when packing artwork.
• Act as courier for loans and or exhibition-related activities, as appropriate.
• Handle (receives/releases) after-hours shipments on an as needed basis with other Collections Management team members.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Collections Manager and Art Handler Supervisor.
• Upholds the professional standards of his/her field and always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and will protect and enhance its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Aspires to excellence in all aspects of his/her work and serves as a model for others.
• Maintains confidentiality and adheres to all CMA protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Hourly pay range

$26.00 – 28.50 per hour

Application Deadline

August 7, 2026

Full-time Benefits Include

• Partner level membership to CMA
• Free, unlimited admission to select Cleveland Museum of Art ticketed exhibitions (two adult member tickets per visit, subject to availability)
• 50% off admission to select ticketed exhibitions for members’ guests
• Free admission to select ticketed exhibitions for unlimited children, 17 and younger, when accompanied by a member
• Priority registration and discounts for museum art classes for adults and children
• 20% discount in the museum store
• 25% discount in the museum restaurant and café
• Annual subscription to Cleveland Art members magazine
• Free Garage Parking
• Your employment relationship with the museum qualifies you for free or discounted admissions to other cultural institutions such as the Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, The Cleveland Zoo, etc.
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Voluntary Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• HSA
• FSA
• 401(k) with company match
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• ID Theft